Gov. Jay Inslee signed the supplement budget Thursday, before taking questions from media. Here are some things he said: 1. Bertha crawls again. “We’re looking forward to continued movement,” Inslee said. “People have to understand, there’s going to have to be a lot of work on this machine to keep it operable … there’s a long ways…

House Majority Leader Rep. Pat Sullivan, D-Covington, said Thursday that even if the state Senate quickly approves a proposed transportation package fueled by an increase in the gas tax, the measure won’t be heard in the House until lawmakers address education funding. Sullivan said a plan to fund the requirements of the Washington Supreme Court ruling known as…

OLYMPIA – The debate over raising the statewide minimum wage has largely revolved around dependable partisan arguments: up-by-the-bootstraps Republicans saying it isn’t necessary or that it would kill businesses and Democrats bent on fixing income inequality. Enter Sen. Mark Miloscia, R-Federal Way, a former Democrat, with what he calls a “grand compromise.” Miloscia dropped a bill Tuesday, More

OLYMPIA – A crew of Navy helicopter pilots and firefighters were honored Wednesday at the Capitol for saving lives in a search-and-rescue effort in the immediate aftermath of the Oso landslide that killed 43 people last March. Backed by a Navy musical ensemble in the Capitol’s rotunda, Gov. Jay Inslee, former Secretary of State Ralph Munro and current…

Gov. Jay Inslee’s proposal to cap state carbon emissions and impose $1 billion a year in new charges on oil refineries, aluminum smelters and other top polluters passed its first legislative hurdle Tuesday, clearing the state House Environment Committee on a party-line vote. Much of the debate centered on GOP amendments that sought to soften the…

Activists hoping to repeal or amend Initiative 594 requiring background checks for private gun sales and transfers have been visible this year in Olympia, but supporters for further gun regulations packed a news conference Tuesday to support legislation that would build on the initiative. Jane Weiss, aunt of Veronika Weiss, who was murdered in a…

By this post’s title, you’d think we were in a sordid film. But really we were in the House Republican Caucus room for the GOP’s weekly media availability. Notable highlights: 1. Several bills to change the gun purchase background-check expansion, the recently passed Initiative 594, were heard Monday in committee hearings. But Rep. Shelly Short, R-Addy, said they aren’t likely to…

Washington State University has offered written assurances to state lawmakers that training at its proposed medical school won’t be limited by partnerships with religiously affiliated hospitals. Such concerns, raised by Rep. Gerry Pollet, D-Seattle, had briefly delayed a committee vote on a bill authorizing the medical school. Pollet said he worried WSU’s proposed school model, which will…

About this blog

Politics Northwest is the go-to blog for politics in our region. The blog explores national, state and local political news and issues. Reporters from Washington, D.C., to Seattle City Hall to the state capital in Olympia contribute. Editors are Richard Wagoner and Beth Kaiman.